Packing apparatus



March 13, 1934. w. H. ALLEN PACKING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 9, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l w. H. ALLEN 1,950,961

PACKING APPARATUS March 13, 1934.

Filed Jan. 9, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l 'fiifififia 14 140 15 5 J i Q) 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 13, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Sutherland Paper Mich.

Company, Kalamazoo,

Application January 9, 1933, Serial No. 650,937

6 Claims.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide an improved holder for use in packing small fruits and vegetables in cartons or containers having an exposed top covered with 5 some transparent material such as cellophane.

Second, to provide a packing apparatus of this character, which supports the container in proper position while being packed and from which the packed container may be readily discharged.

Third, to provide a packing apparatus which is simple and economical in its parts and efiicient and effective in operation.

Objects relating to details and economies of my invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a packing apparatus embodying the features of my invention a box or container being shown in packing position.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view, showing the box or container packed and in completely closed position.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the box and packing apparatus prior to removing the box, the discharging of the parts being indicated by dotted lines.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section showing the box partially inserted in the holder, the section being taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal section.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section similar to Fig. 4, showing the box in final packing position in the apparatus.

The apparatus illustrated is well adapted for use in packing boxes or containers of the type disclosed or claimed in the application of Robert E. Rutledge, Serial No. 634,718, filed September 24,1932.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is a supporting structure, such as a table top, to which the packing apparatus is secured by means of clips 2. The packing apparatus comprises a substantially rectangular frame 3 of heavy wire or light rod, side walls 4 hinged at their lower edge to the sides of the frame and a bottom or facing plate 5 50 arranged within and vertically movable relative to the side walls. The side walls and the facing plate are preferably of sheet metal.

The side walls are provided at their lower edges with integral knuckle portions 6 bent around the sides of the frame to provide bearings for the side walls so that they may be swung on the sides of the frame as pivots.

The side walls have inwardly projecting facing plate supporting flanges or extensions 7 between their bearings 6, the facing plate being adapted to rest upon these flanges and swing the side walls to an inwardly inclined position to support the walls of the box.

The. side walls have central vertical slots 8 while the facing plate has a pair of integral T- 5 shaped tongues 9 slidably engaged with the slots of an opposed pair of side walls and a pair of opposed handles 10 which slidably engage the slots of the other pair of side walls.

The container comprises an outer open-ended or band-like outer wall member 11 rectangular in horizontal section and downwardly tapered. At each corner, this outer band member is provided with a vertical slot 12 of considerable length formed by a U-shaped slit adjacent the corner so that when the outer member is set up, as shown in Fig. 1, the portions cut out to form the slits provide projecting tongues 13.

The inner member comprises a top 14 having a window opening 15. This window opening may 0 be provided with a transparent closure 16 in the form of a sheet of cellophane, glassine paper, or other transparent material. If desired, the win- (low and transparent closure may be omitted.

The top 14 has integral side walls 1'? extending 5 from its edges, these side walls being downwardly tapered to fit within the outer member and in supporting engagement therewith. Each side wall 17 is provided with a tongue 18 on one vertical edge and a corresponding notch 19 on the opposite edge. The notches 19 are adapted to register with the slots of the outer wall members, while the tongues are adapted to engage the slots 12 of the outer wall member and constitute looking means for holding the inner and outer members of the box in assembled relation.

The bottom 20 extends from the bottom edge of one of the inner walls 17 and has flaps 21 on its other edges. These flaps are downwardly tapered and of such length that their ends are in supporting engagement with the walls of the outer member and so that when the members are assembled, the bottom is supported in proper relation so that it will sustain the load to which it is subjected. As stated, the parts are retained in assembled relation by the tongues 18 engaging the slots 12.

In packing, the inner member is arranged in inverted position and the walls swung to erected, position. If the closure is to be provided for the window, it is laid in position and then the facing layer 22 of the contents is arranged on the closure. After the facing has been arranged, the material is poured into the inner member to properly fill the same. The bottom is then swung down to position and the outer wall member slipped over the inner while it is still in inverted and in packing position. It is only necessaryto push the outer member down over the inner. The tongues 18 automatically engage, thereby locking the parts in assembled relation.

My improved packing apparatus greatly facilitates the packing of the container in the manner described above. The frame 3 has side members or walls 4 hinged thereto to be swung inwardly into supporting engagement with the walls 17 or to be swung outwardly. These side members 4 have inwardly projecting flanges serving as supports for the bottom or face plate 5 of the holder on which the container is arranged so that by inverting the inner member of the container and pushing downwardly thereon the side walls 4 of the holder are swung inwardly to swing the container walls to erected position, as shown by Figs. 1 and 6.

When the packing is completed, the container bottom is swung down with the bottom flaps 21 lying at the outside of the side walls. The outer wall member 11 is inverted over the inner member and its contents and pushed down over the holder walls 4 which are of thin sheet metal and the packed container is discharged from the holder by lifting the handles 10, as illustrated by Fig. 3.

My improved packing apparatus makes it possible to pack the containers quickly and without damaging the contents. In addition, it is extremely simple and economical in its parts.

I have illustrated and described my improvements in an embodiment which I have found very practical. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe other embodiments or adaptations, as it is believed this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my improvements as maybe desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A packing apparatus comprising a rectangular frame, vertically slotted side walls hinged on the sides of the frame and having inwardly projecting plate supporting flanges at their lower edges, and a facing plate having opposed T- shaped tongues slidably engaging the slots of an opposed pair of said walls, and opposed handles disposed through and slidable in the slots of the other pair of side walls. I

2. A packing apparatus comprising a rectangular frame, vertically slotted side walls hinged on the sides of the frame and having inwardly projecting plate supporting flanges at their lower edges, and a facing plate having parts slidably engaging the slots of said walls, and opposed handles for manipulating said plate.

3. A packing apparatus comprising a frame, side walls having integral lower edge portions bent around the sides of said frame to provide bearings, said side walls having central opposed vertical slots and central inturned bottom flanges, and a bottom resting on said flanges and having a pair of integral opposed tongues slidably keyed to a pair of said slots and a pair of opposed handles extending through the other pair of said slots.

4. A packing apparatus comprising a frame, side walls having integral lower edge portions bent around the sides of said frame to provide bearings, said side walls having opposed vertical slots and inturned bottom flanges, and a bottom resting on said flanges and having a pair of tongues slidably keyed to a pair of said slots and a pair of handles extending through the other pair of said slots.

5. A packing apparatus comprising a base, side walls having vertical slots therein pivotally mounted on said base and provided with inwardly projecting facing plate supporting rests at their lower ends, and a facing plate having parts slidably engaging said slots permitting the facing plate to engage said rests whereby the walls are swung to an inwardly inclined package supporting position and the sides are swung outwardly to release the package by the lifting of the facing plate within said walls.

6. A packing apparatus comprising a base, side walls pivotally mounted on said base and provided with inwardly projecting facing plate supporting rests at their lower ends, and a facing plate having parts including handles slidably en- 

